Day #74: Sacrosanctum Concilium 14-16

Article 14 contains one of those other popular quotes about which much ink has been spilled (emphasis added):

“Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy.”

In order to acheieve this, the Council notes that the liturgical formation of the clergy is an absolutely necessary precursor. Thus we need properly trained professors of liturgy in our seminaries (article 15). And liturgy needs to be a focal point in all of seminary training (article 16).

"[The documents of Vatican II] need to be read correctly, to be widely known and taken to heart as important and normative texts of the Magisterium, within the Church's Tradition. . . . I feel more than ever in duty bound to point to the Council as the great grace bestowed on the Church in the twentieth century: there we find a sure compass by which to take our bearings. . . ."